Liverpool need 'proven' partner for Danny Ings says Danny Murphy

Liverpool have been urged to add to their attack despite the signing of Ings.Getty Images

Liverpool have been urged to further improve their attack despite the signing of Danny Ings from Burnley.

Ings, who netted 11 Premier League goals last season for the relegated Clarets, will join the Reds this summer -- alongside returning loanee Divock Origi -- following a tribunal to decide a fee Liverpool must pay for the striker.

The England Under-21 international will join a Liverpool forward line which includes Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert, Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli, who mustered just eight league goals between them last term, and former midfielder Danny Murphy says more firepower is required.

"Danny Ings is talented and he can score goals," he told talkSPORT. "It's tough to judge him on this season because he's been playing for Burnley. He's a talent, but he is unproven at the top level.

"He's a great prospect and he's English, so that's good news for Liverpool. At this stage though, to get back into the top four, do they need a proven out and out striker? A bigger, more established, name? Or are they going to rely on Daniel Sturridge being fit? Because I'm not sure they can."

Liverpool's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season was undermined by their summer of spending, with few of the signings made by Brendan Rodgers making an impact in their maiden campaign.

With no top tier European football to attract players, Liverpool face a tough summer transfer widow despite having already acquired James Milner on a free from Manchester City.

Former winger John Barnes says with the club now on the back foot in the window, Rodgers must find value in the market similar to when he signed Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan for £8m in January 2013.

"They can't take a gamble any more," he told Talksport. "They can't get the best in the world. Liverpool can't compete with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United from a salary perspective so they are going to have to maybe find another [Philippe] Coutinho."